Water-closet attachment.



No. 855,614. PATENTED JUNE '4, 1907.

MUDUFPEE BRADFORD.

WATER CLOSET ATTACHMENT.

1 APPLIUATION FILED DBO.10,1906.

I I Hi9? 4 'I' Swumboz am o MODUFFEE BRADFORD, OF N OCONA, TEXAS.

.WATER-CLOSET ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed December 10,1906. Serial No. 347,115.

To u/ZZ 1071 0717, it Duty concern:

Be it known that I, MCDUFFEE BRAD- FORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nocona, in the county of Montague and State of Texas, have invented certain new and. useful Improvements in ater-Closet Attachments, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to outhouses especially designed for reception of excrement and devoid of running water to carry off eifete matter and has for its object to confine the odors and vapors when the closet is not in use.

The invention contemplates closures mounted to swing and normally extending over the pit so as to prevent rising of odors therefrom into the surrounding air and combining with such closures, means for opening the same when the closet is in use, the weight of the person being utilized as means for opening the closures and holding the same open during the occupancy of the seat.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction and the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes in the structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a closet embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse section showing the manner of operating one of the wings of the closure. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at a right angle to Fig. 2 showing one of the operating bars in full.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The frame 1 of the closet is of box form and is provided at the top with the usual seat and is supplied at or near its lower end with a closure which in the present instance consists of two wings 2 which are hinged at their outer edges and adapted to swing upward at their inner edges, said wings closing downward upon a shoulder 3 formed by strips attached to the side walls of the frame.

The inner ends of the wings 2 either overlap slightly or come close together so that when the wings are closed the odors are entirely confined.

For actuating the wings an operating bar 4 is provided for each of said wings, each of said bars being pivoted at 5 and the bars being arranged adjacent to the hinged edges of the respective wings. The long arm of the oper ating bar projects inward whereas the short arm extends outward and projects a short distance from the front of the frame 1 to be pressed upon when it is required to open the closure.

A bell crank 6 is loosely connected to the inner end of each operating bar. The short arm of the bell crank inclines upwardly and is adapted to engage with a wing at some distance from its hinged edge whereas the other or long arm inclines upwardly to engage with a portion of the frame. Upon operating the bar 4 the long arm of the bell crank rides upon the frame and is moved into an appr oximate vertical position thereby turning the bell crank upon its pivotal connection with the operating bar and throwing the outer end of the short arm inward with the result that the wing in engagement with the short arm of the bell crank is thrown open so as to admit of excrement having unobstructed passage into the pit when the closet is in use.

A spring 7 normally holds the operating bars in a given position thereby supplementing the action of the wings in their tendency The to close when relieved from pressure. spring 7 is attached at acentral point to the frame 1 and its opposite ends engage un der the projecting ends of the bars 4.- so as to exert an upward pressure thereon. A pressure bar 8 extends along the front of the frame 1 and projects a short distance above the seat so as to be engaged when the seat isoccupied, with the result that the wings are thrown open.

The pressure bar has a pendent member 9 at each end, the same being mounted in keep' ers 10 to move freely therein, the lower ends of the pendent members resting upon the projecting ends of the operating bars 4. In the preferable construction, the pressure bar 8 and pendent members 9 are parts of a stout wire, rod or bar having its end portions bent in the same direction to provide an operating frame of approximately U-form.

In adapting the invention to a closet the parts are so arranged that when the seat is occupied, downward pressure is exerted upon the bar 8 of the Ushaped frame, said pressure being directed upon the outer ends of the operating bars 4, with the result that their inner ends are thrown upward to effect opening of the wings so as to give unobstructed passage for matter without lodgment of the same upon the closure and fouling of same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

20 adapted to ride upon a portion of the frame when the operating bar is moved, to effect turning of the bell crank upon the operating bar simultaneously with movement of said bar.

2. In a closet attachment, the combination of a closure comprising a pair of wings, an operating bar for each wing pivoted between its ends and having a projecting portion, and a U-shaped frame having its verti cal members in contact with the projecting ends of the operating bars and having its horizontal member arranged to be pressed u on by the occupant of the closet seat to e feet opening of the said wings.

In testimony whereof I afliX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MoDUFFEE BRADFORD.

Witnesses ERNEST BOND, M. K. BoNELs. 

